With so many people walking around with a camera (ie. phone) in their pocket and the ease with which it can be used to capture a quick snapshot there is perhaps a misunderstanding about what it actually takes to produce the kind of landscape image that can be proudly printed metres wide and hung on a wall. It would be wonderful if landscape photography was all about laying around in the sunshine in beautiful locations waiting for the light, clicking the shutter and that being the end of it, but the truth is very different.

Each image on this website represents several days if not weeks of solid work (much of it endless driving, time consuming post processing and returning to locations, sometimes over many years) coupled with a not insignificant financial outlay. Granted the actual field experience is enjoyable, otherwise I wouldn’t pursue it so relentlessly, but the myth that “being in the right place at the right time” is all it takes is, well, a myth. When a reverse image search reveals over a thousand copyright infringements that I have neither the time or the money to pursue, I really have to remind myself that avoiding external stresses and getting back to nature is the whole reason I love photography. Anyway, off my soap box, and let’s talk about these latest images.

The main purpose of the trip was return to Bermagui and have another crack at the magical Horse Head Rock. This time I think I nailed it, with the dawn light just slipping between the clouds and warming my subject. Nice. The tide was up, so the “walk” out was more a solo rock climb with one hand holding the big tripod. I got drenched a couple of times, but my camera bag was well protected so it was more fun than serious.

Coming home via Kosciuszko meant I could do a hike and tick off another hut or two towards my long term goal of photographing all the most scenic mountain huts. This time I targeted Four Mile Hut and was lucky enough to shoot through a summer rain storm that produced excellent cloud and lighting. Incredibly I met another hiker from Bendigo (my home town). What a random chance. We had a nice chat, whilst continuously fighting off the mossies who clock-on at sundown right after the march flies knock off for the day. The little buggers were so bad I had to shoo them away from the lens, and even reshoot many times to ensure an insect free capture.

The Buffalo image was one I’d been saving for some years. It’s probably the most obvious and most accessible shot to take when first arriving and thus one I had delayed obtaining in favour of greater adventure and uniqueness. With limited time however, it proved the perfect fit for a quick dawn shot. As luck would have it there was no wind at all, so the only thing I had to deal with was flare from shooting straight into the sun.

The question of where to next can be answered quite easily because actually I’ve already been, racking up several thousand kilometres on an epic drive north, concentrating on coastal New South Wales with a quick dip into Brisbane before the long push home to Victoria again. Images will be posted as I find the time to work on them, with the trip report to follow in a month or two.

As always, thanks for reading, and a great many thanks for all those customers who purchased my work. Have a great New Year everyone!